April
19 World Bicycle Day
Bicycle
Day is April 19, commemorating 1943 April 19, when Dr. Albert Hofmann first
took LSD intentionally.
The bicycle industry needs to move forward in terms of product
quality, production automation and techniques by introducing, absorbing and
comprehending sophisticated equipment and technologies available globally.
In recent times, bicycles have become less important in day-to-day
life, potentially leading to fading out of most of the demand thereby resulting
in major transformation in the industry.
ASSOCHAM suggests that few steps need to be taken to give a boost
to the bicycle industry:
ASSOCHAM
strongly proposes stricter anti-dumping laws to save the domestic industry from
cheap imports of bicycles and its parts from China. Chinese imports have
flooded the Indian market as they have a comparative cost advantage.
So,
it is necessary to formulate stringent laws for our industry to flourish.
ASSOCHAM
suggests that the government should take measures to promote culture of cycling
in India by making stricter laws for cyclist's safety on roads.
Cycling
in India should be promoted to make it a professional sport, so that more and
more cycle production takes place and gives a boost to the industry. The
government should review FTAs and safeguarding measures to avoid misuse of
SAFTA.
ASSOCHAM
recommends that the government should reduce the excise duty on the bicycles.
Increase
in excise duty in budget 2013-14 has increased the cost of bicycle purchases,
burdened the common man and also affected the industry adversely. The number of
Bicycles exported over the past few years has been declining on account of
uncompetitive pricing while the industry of China has grown.
A
Bicycle saves enormous amount of energy and also contributes to pollution-free
environment. Hence, there is enough justification for the reduction of excise
duty on bicycles.
ASSOCHAM
recommends that the import duty on bicycles and its parts should be increased
from 20 % to 30 %. If the central government takes this step, then the prices
of Chinese and Indian bicycles will equate in the global market.
Concept
of cycling clubs should be promoted...
A
cycling club's activities vary from one aspect of cycle sport to a range of
cycling and social activities.
Scheme
of providing free bicycles has been implemented in few states such as
Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.
ASSOCHAM
suggests that all other states should also implement this scheme, so that
demand of bicycles goes up.
Src: ASSOCHAM
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